“Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish.”

―

Anne Bradstreet

==============

……… tweet from Republican National Party on June 14, 2018 ………….

Join or Else. If there is one common theme Trump and his merry band of corrupt amoral yahoos have espoused, this is it. Yeah. They may cloak it in some vapid superficial niceties, but, in the end, it “Join or Else.

That said. (stepping back to my words of January 2017)

———————————-

Well.

Yesterday was an interestingly disturbing day to begin “the new era of The United States of America.”

I listened to the Trump inauguration speech with growing horror. It had all the trappings of authoritarianism wrapped snugly in a blanket of patriotism & promises of wealth, security, strength and ‘greatness.’

I listened to it not just as a citizen but as a business guy.

Yeah. Populism can be seen in business just as it can be seen in politics. In business it can be called ‘the cult mentality’ and more often than not its leader is a ‘less-than-benevolent’ dictator. Let’s call it a ‘join, or else’ culture. You can drive membership in this culture a couple of ways … both grounded in fear.

Fear of losing <part 1>.Outsiders are trying to steal what is ours … people who don’t believe in what we believe in are trying to steal what is ours … join us because we are the people who count and matter.

I do not want to lose what is rightfully mine.

Fear of losing <part 2>.I am on the outside looking in and … well … holy shit … if I don’t join I am gonna lose everything <or be branded as a non joiner>.

I will join because if I don’t I am up shit creek without a paddle and lose what I have.

Businesses try this shit all the time. It is their way of building a strong culture, claiming it is inclusive, albeit inclusive is grounded by ‘a tight set of club rules.’ They will argue it is not a tight set but rather a basic construct which binds people in a good way … you call it tomato and I call it rotten. This Trump version of populism is, well, it goes beyond corporate cult culture. This version is close to being batshit crazy dangerous thought leadership.

Let’s look at the brochure and talk a minute with the Trump Club recruiter.

The cover of the brochure suggests an unstoppable America, driven solely by self-interest, in other words, our Club wins at all costs at the expense of anyone who stands in our way! <“if you want to win, join us” it says …>.

It further reads with threatening all those who might stand in the way of this Club and it’s winning/great objective. It contains an adamant stance of ‘no real choice’, i.e., a demanded unity not an asked for unity.

Yeah.

Some of the club benefits look awful good in the brochure … more & better jobs, stronger economy, stronger security, less business regulations and country pride. And then I turn over the brochure just to check out the legalese, the cost of the benefits as it were, to explore how the promises of the Club will be delivered.

The headline on the back of the brochure really wanted me to join this club … the message of “join today because today is the day the people become the rulers of this country.” I vaguely remember that being the call of the French Revolution but it sounds cool <although I could swear we, the people, have been voting in people as representatives for awhile>.

But. Whew. It sounds good. I like it.

It feels empowering and inspirational with the added comfort that I will no longer be one of “the forgotten people which will be forgotten no longer.” I know for sure that would like to not be forgotten and being part of a club would be nice and … well … gosh … uhm … now that I think about it … I didn’t know I had been forgotten.

The recruiter leans forward and says “of course you were, the intellectual globalist elite in Washington and around the world have been keeping you down … they don’t care about you … they have forgotten that it was you that made them part of the wealthy elite.”

Ok. But didn’t your Club President build his wealth off the backs of ‘forgotten people’ and … well … it seems like they aren’t any better off but he is a shitload better off, doesn’t it?

Oh … no, no, no … he appreciates everything they have done for him. Hey. And don’t you want to be wealthy too?

I look down at the brochure and I see the bolded ‘make wealthy’ words and have to ask the club recruiter, decked out in an ‘America first’ hat and neatly pressed ‘make America great’ uniform like shirt, I ask the recruiter … “this becoming wealthy thing … its sounds an awful lot like Amway.”

Oh, no, it is nothing like that at all. Our Club will make everything great for everyone and you will have great opportunities to get the wealth you have always deserved, but haven’t got, because the lazy, less than hard working elite will not get it anymore … we will make sure you get your fair share. Hey. Look at this picture of the Club President in his office … check out the gold curtains … the gold rug and the gold fixtures … that is wealth. That is what you can be part of!

Oh.

And, look, if you join today you get a hat <which you should wear as often as possible so that we can tell who is in the club and who isn’t>.

And, even better, we should have some additional pieces of apparel you can wear soon. In fact … we will have special uniforms & badges for the original club members to showcase their elite status in the club … everyone will want to wear them.

Ok. One last question … your club is “God’s chosen.” I didn’t know God chose … I thought he was all about equal among all men. Does this mean that other clubs don’t believe in God or does God just favor us? And does this mean I have to believe in your version of God and … well … what exactly is your version of God?

“Oh.

Well.

We are a Christian based club … but of course we accept anyone. But don’t forget … Christianity, above all, outlines all the values which lead to a better version of yourself … and, well, that is what we want all Club members to be able to achieve. Everyone should have values, don’t you think?”

Whew. This is fucking crazy shit going on

To be clear. A shitload of the club leaders and followers are going to try and draw some false comparisons and equivalents to past American heroes.

To be clear. This is significantly different than Thomas Jefferson’s plea for unity in his inaugural address in 1800 — “every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.”

The Trump club has one principle and one opinion.

There is no room for anything else. More important than color of skin, religion, gender … this may actually be my root concern with ‘the club’.

The main principle?

Believe what I believe … or you are not a true believer.

That kind of seems to be the club. Kind of an “us versus them” attitude … uhm … although us <being a US citizen> is actually also them <being US citizens>.

“Oh no … no … why wouldn’t you believe in the United States of America if you lived in there? … everyone believes that. And if they don’t? … well … they should.”

Anyway. Oh. One last question. I didn’t hear it anywhere from the Club President or see it in the brochure … do you guys have a constitution?

Oh, we don’t need one. We just demand a ‘total allegiance to the Club’ … oh … which believes the same things as the country wants … so you should be all for it.”

(ME) Gosh. I am not sure I can join this club … I already have a constitution I live by … and my allegiance is, first & foremost, to that and not some Club and how they think. <period … end of statement>

Look. The one thing Trump was 100% right on is that January 20, 2017 was the dawn of a new era.

“Now comes the hour of action.”

That was the call for the Trump Club. “Join or else”is what should be heard.

Just to be clear.

I am a believer in God <however you want to define it>.

I am a patriot <however you want to define it>.

I am a proud American <however you want to define it>.

But I am not joining the club called “Trump America.”

In fact … I say ‘fuck you and your fucking club.’

As for what I will do? …………….

===============

“I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest.”

Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer.

Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.

—-

John F. Kennedy

==========

Whew. Finally.

The last 2016 American election presidential debate. No more World Wrestling Foundation political events.

While I will say a couple things let me begin with the most important thing everyone should pay attention to with regard to the third debate — the close.

Anyone in business knows that how you close a big meeting is, well, YUGE <as Bernie Sanders would say>.

=========

Their closing statements summed it all up for me: Clinton’s was a message of hope and unification, Trump couldn’t help himself and ended on a pointless attack. Never has a candidate proven himself so utterly childlike – it’s entertaining but profoundly disturbing that he’s actually managed to make it this far.

Djozer

===============

Closing statements create the foundation for vision and attitude which ultimate blends into the behavior you should expect. Just as in what they decided to wear … I received optimism and togetherness from the lady in white and dark, despair and divide from the man in black.

I couldn’t think of better symbolism for the choice at hand.

As for the debate itself? While exhibiting moments of actual leadership lucidity, Trump continuously reverts back to some tween like persona given half a chance.

Alternative universe moments:

<1>:

“Look, she’s been proven to be a liar in so many ways,” Trump pouted.

“This is just another lie.”

<when, in fact, she spoke his own words back to him>

Parallel universe?

This after he had run thru a continuous string of lies <or ¼ truths> that fact checkers just gave up and suggested he could do nothing but lie.

<2>:

“Such a nasty woman.”

Parallel universe?

Uhm … hard to reconcile Trump’s remark with a claim he made earlier the night that “no one has more respect for women than I do.”

<3>:

“<insert anything he says here>”

Parallel universe?

Anything his surrogates say trying to explain what he said.

<note: if you are actually paying people to tell people what you really said and what you really meant you do not belong in that job>

Next.

To me the funniest moment was ‘You’re The Puppet!’ <a moment that had every small child gleefully clapping>

Background: Trump just lost his temper when Clinton suggested Russian president Vladimir Putin would like to see Trump in office “because he’d rather have a puppet as president.”

“No puppet, no puppet!” Trump interjected.

Clinton continued, “It’s pretty clear you won’t admit…”

“You’re the puppet!” Trump shouted.

“That the Russians have engaged in cyber attacks …”

“No, you’re the puppet!” Trump said again.

“Against the United States of America,” Clinton concluded.

You just cannot make this shit up. This is comedic genius <albeit part of a presidential debate>.

Next.

To me the most horrifying moment <of which there were several candidates for this slot> was the late term abortion discussion moment where Trump gave a horrifying description of ripping full-term babies from the womb <several times … it seemed like he liked saying it>.

Sigh.

I don’t care if you are pro-life or not … Trump’s foul and incorrect depiction of later term abortion was … well … horrifying.

Look.

Debates are debates and politics is messy. I don’t really care <assuming we actually get to hear the truth on occasion and ‘communication malpractice’ is kept to a minimum>. But words really do matter. Despite Trump’s seeming disdain for not only using adult words and acting like an adult when he speaks what he says is heard by millions and, whether they agree with him or not, those same millions at least ponder them as some semi credible thought <because, for god’s sake, he is the nominee of one of the 2 parties>.

We have heard him diminish people, groups of people and religions of people, we have heard him call Clinton much worse than a “nasty woman”, we have heard him espouse a creative array of conspiracy theories <presented as fact> and we have heard him offer a safe haven for the rage of anyone who believes America is not the America that they want.

I cannot envision how Trump can win. America just seems too good for him. But in his ignorant bull in a china shop leadership style he has inserted an insidious thread of “un-American thoughts” under the guise of “what makes America great” which actually threatens the foundation of the republic.

He is a false prophet to people who have real grievances.

It creates a challenge for the Clinton presidency. But a challenge worth taking on.

She will have to ignore Trump and listen to these people.

While I believe she will be a good president and will offer the country some good pragmatic actionable ideas I believe her presidency will ultimately be defined by how well she listens to what she referred to as “the deplorables” and invests in their lives enough so that they no longer act in deplorable ways. And, maybe mos importantly, she invests in words & thoughts to fill the spaces in people’s minds with good & ‘right’ thoughts.

Regardless.

Thank god the debates are over.

ADDENDUM:

Speaking of closings … last evening was a charity event in which both Trump & Clinton light hearted jabbed at themselves and each other. Some jabs were good and some feel flat.

I don’t care. It was a charity event.

However. Clinton chose to close her lighthearted comments by shifting into a more serious presidential-like message.

I will admit. Most times her speaking is too measured and too earnest for my tastes.

But. She has what I call “a presidential gear.” She shifts gears. She looks slightly more focused and her voice drops down and flattens her vowels and rounds out her consonants.

And when she does that and has the right words? Yowza. And she chose to do so at the close of this dinner and hit a frickin’ grand slam home run.

It was a fabulous message for a fabulous country working through a fabulously difficult time. I cannot find all the words online but she reminded the audience that the namesake of the dinner, Al Smith, faced prejudice for being Catholic and that many of the dinner’s attendees were immigrants or children of immigrants and said:

“There is nothing funny about the stakes in this election. In the end, what makes this dinner important are not the jokes we tell, but the legacy we carry forward. It is often easy to forget how far this country has come, and there are a lot of people in this room tonight who themselves, or their parents or grandparents, came here as immigrants, made a life for yourselves, took advantage of the American dream and the greatest system that has ever been created in the history of world.

Divisive rhetoric makes it harder for us to see each other and listen to each other, and certainly a lot harder to love our neighbor as ourselves.”

“He who wants to persuade should put his trust not in the right argument, but in the right word.

The power of sound has always been greater than the power of sense.”

–

Joseph Conrad

====

“Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.”

–

Ralph Waldo Emerson

====

Well.

With an election going on all you have to do is turn on the television or go to any news website and you will see someone giving a speech. Great oration is a skill … almost an art. Some people are naturals. More people are not.

But.

Having given some presentations in my lifetime, as well as provided some training, let me share one of the biggest secrets to presenting … if you have a great speech it is easy to present it.

In business we spend so much time trying to train someone on ‘how to present comfortably’ and ‘tricks’ to connect with an audience that it masks what presenting & speeches have in common with social media – content is the key.

Give me the best speech in the world and the worst presenter can give it.

Conversely … even the best presenter will stumble over the worst speech.

I thought of this as I watched several presidential candidates give a post mortem speech after the Tuesday elections.

I watched Rubio <sadly, yet defiantly, dropping out of the race>, Kasich <touched by a win in his own state>, Clinton <stepping up to the bigger beast in the room – Trump> and … well … the beast himself.

I won’t go into specifics of the four speeches but let me say that Rubio & Clinton must have great speech writers. Poetry and prose mixed with aspirations & hope & pragmatic expectations.

By the way … that is incredibly tough to do in a speech.

Very very few people can write that stuff.

Kasich speeches are easy to write because he has some common themes that come from his core beliefs & values. But suffice it to say that all three of those speeches were about ‘we the people’, what ‘we’ can do together, the spirit at the core of a country, hope for something better … and a dose of caution to not be enticed by the easier road of frustration, fear & hate.

And the only “we” incorporated in were the stupid people who were losers or the enemy peering over the gates like China, Islam & Mexico <who he is gonna punch>.

It was all about his polls, his numbers, and him.

The contrast between speeches is stunning.

Everyone else talks about the people and attitude and spirit … he talks about how popular he is and … well … how stupid everyone is because we are losing too much.

The difference between the words, tone and attitude of the speeches was … well … truly stunning.

Anybody in business who writes presentations and gives speeches knows the Trump speech path is ultimately a dead end. People like to hear confidence & strong leadership but they want to feel participation and connection.

Solutions are always preferred to problems.

Implying people together is always preferred to tearing people apart.

Suffice it to say that without a grander purpose, something beyond an “outcome” objective <like a ‘win’> a speech only leads everyone down a dead end path.

A speech should attempt to find that sweet spot of prose, real facts, anecdote and the commitment to a greater purpose. People deserve to hear the good and it shouldn’t be overwhelmed by any bad.

Trump offers speeches carved on … well … tombstones and not hearts.

===

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.

A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”

―

Shannon L. Alder

===

I love words and I love hearing a great speaker give a great speech. While Trump may be one of the most comfortable people I have ever seen behind a podium and a microphone he also may be one of the worst speech writers I have ever heard.

Give me the good, the hopeful, the commitment to a higher purpose any day of the week. And I honestly believe most people want to hear that.

Great speeches, given well, lift people up off of the easy angry, resentful, blame-paved path and let us fly when we don’t even realize we can fly.

Anyway.

I can write an okay speech <I have two posts coming up – one on writing a presentation and one on giving a presentation … as if there aren’t enough “how to” garbage already available online>.

But I am honest enough to know that even on my best day and in my best speech writing moment I may only get a glimpse of what a great speech writer can accomplish.

As I share that thought I remember a nice little scene from West Wing where Toby <the chief communications director> comments on Presidential State of the Union speeches and who can write them. He suggests there are maybe 6 or so in the country that can do so. I will not haggle over the number but suffice it to say he is correct … great speechwriters are few and far between.

This also means the everyday schmuck <think … “you & I”> writes a generally crappy speech <even though we all think it is great>.

I believe I am in the minority in this thinking.

I think many people <more than can actually do it> believe they write great speeches.

Maybe worse for the business world is that I think many businesses believe too many of their own people should, and can, write speeches.

Look.

As a word guy I want to teach & coach everyone to use words well & wisely.

But, in business, it is … well … business.

This is not a popular thought in the current business world view of collaboration & empowerment but I believe businesses should identify their great speechwriters and empower them to write the business speeches.

What this means is that some people end up delivering speeches written by other people.

This freaks a shitload of people out.

I actually believe they get freaked out for two main reasons:

<1> conceptually it fights the internal “I am best at delivering shit in my own words … words I would use”. The key here is ‘conceptually’. Good words are good words and good thoughts are good thoughts. The kind of words you would actually use shouldn’t change the meaning of a great speech or presentation. But we freak out nonetheless … even before we even see the speech

<2> pragmatically most business presentations and speeches are written by crappy writers therefore I do end up freaked out just by looking at what I am being asked to speak. This is beyond the ‘corporate speak’ stench that emanates from every hallway in every business. That is just business crap. a great speech has order and ebbs & flows and seamlessly slides from point to point. Most businesses do not have a shitload of people who can do that.

In business … you almost cannot pay a great speechwriter or great presentation writer enough money. If you have one in your organization you should treat them like gold.

Anyway.

Within a great speech there is often a paragraph or a line that you know is great even as it slips across your lips:

Clinton’s line about Trump … “it doesn’t make him strong … it makes him wrong.”

Kasich’s indirect jab at Trump … “I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land.”

But the greatest of the great speeches cross over into some unseen universe of euphoria. As a listener you listen, hear … and may not remember specifics but you remember how it made you feel.

Nowhere has this been showcased better than on the old television show West Wing.

For example … after a pipe bomb explodes at a university killing 44 people, including three swimmers, the president gives a speech that includes the following:

“… More than any time in recent history, America’s destiny is not of our own choosing. We did not seek nor did we provoke an assault on our freedoms and our way of life. We did not expect nor did we invite a confrontation with evil. Yet the true measure of a people’s strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does arrive. Forty-four people were killed a couple of hours ago at Kennison State University; three swimmers from the men’s team were killed and two others are in critical condition; when after having heard the explosion from their practice facility they ran into the fire to help get people out … ran ‘into’ the fire. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They’re our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels, but every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we’re reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars. God bless their memory, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.”

Or.

The explanation that the director of communications gives when discussing free trade:

Toby Ziegler:

You want to know the benefits of free trade? Food is cheaper.

Food is cheaper! Clothes are cheaper. Steel is cheaper. Cars are cheaper. Phone service is cheaper. You feel me building a rhythm here? That’s because I’m a speech writer – I know how to make a point.

It lowers prices, it raises income. You see what I did with ‘lowers’ and ‘raises’ there?

It’s called the science of listener attention. We did repetition, we did floating opposites, and now you end with the one that’s not like the others. Ready? Free trade stops wars. Heh, and that’s it. Free trade stops wars! And we figure out a way to fix the rest.

Words really do matter and, possibly even more important, words delivered well really matter. The wrong words and speech can kill the best idea. Back in 2012 I wrote about elections and words used well and made this point.

Regardless.

Speeches are not like stories. Just as presentations are not really stories.

Speeches are all about using words well to lift people from one place to another.

Yes, lift.

Speeches are not meant to lower themselves into the ordinary uncomfortable truths of what we feel. Speeches are meant to recognize the uncomfortable truths and then lift us above it so we can see a horizon where things are better … the comfortable truth that what is will not always be and what will be is better for you, me & everyone – that no one gets left behind.

Bottom line.

A great speech lets us see what will be and not what is. Anyone who writes a speech … and gives a speech … would do well to remember the wise words of Hugh McLeod … “the market for something to believe in is infinite.”

Now we know why. He clicks on Wikipedia or urban dictionary or instagram <scanning an image with some quote or factoid> and then tweets it out or parrots it in on-air interviews.

He has no credible sources … he just makes shit up or maybe even worse … he doesn’t truly think about what he believes.

I know many of my readers do not live in USA … but for those who do … please think about that before you vote.

Ok.

Now ponder this Trump wisdom.

“I’m speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain and I’ve said a lot of things. My primary consultant is myself and I have – you know, I have a good instinct for this stuff.”

Well, Donald, that sounds quite reasonable. It’s not as if the world, let alone the Middle East, Ukraine, the South China Sea, is particularly complex or that there are nuanced delicate diplomatic situations or even that it is important to get it right.

I imagine just going on instinct makes sense. Or maybe go on the internet because there you will surely find all the answers you will need.

<note some heavy sarcasm there>

When I read what he said I thought of a Samuel Adams quote:

—-

“If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.”

===

Samuel Adams

——

With Trump we are facing a vain man, maybe the vainest of vain, and an aspiring man – one who aspires with no rules, no boundaries, seemingly no moral imperative, or … well … any trivial nuisance that could get in the way of a win.

He appears, alarmingly so, to be free of any actual solutions.

He appears to be free, alarmingly so, of any real policy <beyond his ‘good instincts for this stuff.”

He appears to be free, alarmingly so, to offer frighteningly hollow rhetoric.

He is the ruin … not of the country <we will still be standing despite him> … but he is the ruin of what makes the country great <which is not simply ‘winning’ as he suggests it is>.

In my little corner of the world I will do everything in my power to convince everyone of the sham Trump is and what he offers.

Why?

I will refer to Samuel Adams again <and let everyone who has not spoken out yet think about these words>:

—

“… the necessity of the times, more than ever, calls for our utmost circumspection, deliberation, fortitude, and perseverance. Let us remember that “if we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom.” It is a very serious consideration, which should deeply impress our minds, that millions yet unborn may be the miserable sharers of the event.”

==

Samuel Adams in The Boston Gazette 14 October 1771

—

Speak out now.

For what we say, and do, today has an impact … an impact that millions yet unborn may be the miserable sharers of the event.

We seek to circumvent the miserableness for the millions yet unborn.

========

Toby Ziegler <West Wing>:

“We don’t know what the next president is going to face. If we choose someone with vision, someone with guts, someone with gravitas, who’s connected to other people’s lives and cares about making them better; if we choose someone to inspire us then we’ll be able to face what comes our way and achieve things we can’t imagine yet.”

Politics, and American/democracy politics in particular, is the perfect time to remind everyone that how you present an idea is often as important, maybe even more important, than the idea itself. I am not diminishing the importance of the idea itself but I am maximizing the importance of the presentation. If you have ever doubted this thought I suggest you watch the American republican & democratic conventions (I watched both).

Now.

Apparently the Romney crew disagrees with me … in watching the Democratic convention <although Mitt says he is not watching> they say things like “the speeches are nice, and well & good, but they are just speeches.”

Well.

In fact … oh my. I have said it before <about business> and I will say it again <this time on politics & policy> … I have seen more great ideas die because they were poorly presented then I have seen … well … let’s just say I have seen shitload.

Great presentation of a thought, even a mediocre thought, will beat a poorly presented great thought.

Sorry.

That just happens.

Anyway.

Romney team silliness aside … here is my point on this american election and the presentations.

Ideologically <or platform wise> Americans may have a clearer choice than they have ever had before between the candidates/party lines … and yet … it may come down to how it is presented.

Republican convention was plodding. Maybe it was because they focused n details? I don’t know.

Mitt Romney is an uninspiring big room speaker <which makes people struggle to see how he plays on a global stage even if he may have the answers to a domestic problem>.

Mrs. Romney was delightful & charming … and not used to the national stage <she is quite like Mrs. Obama 4 years ago>.

Ryan is engaging when on a comfortable topic and shows signs of being an engaging speaker but needs seasoning on this large a stage. Although. Ryan. I will note that at some point in this election some Republicans will be wishing Ryan was the presidential candidate and Romney the VP because the boy is gonna deliver in town hall after town hall.

Conclusion.

Republicans?

Good solid presenters but not American dream type presenters.

Democrats?

Whew.

They had a murderers row of killer presenters.

The Ohio governor was a pistol.

They gave him the hard edged stuff to deliver and he did.

Mayor of San Antonio, an American Latino, was Ryan like. A little stilted in the overwhelming spotlight but you saw the foundation for what ‘could be.’

The Mayor of Newark is the rising star … Booker I think is his name. Wow. Great communicator.

The vice president <Biden>? Well. He could be a Republican presenter … his lips move and it is like a Peanuts cartoon <bla .. bla … bla is what comes out>. But. I imagine all his bla, bla, blas lead to a lot of old white folk voting for democrats.

Oh.

And then there was the president’s wife. Michelle Obama has become a speaker juggernaut. People call her a political juggernaut but I would argue with that. I would simply say she has entered the spotlight and learned to embrace it. She is a better presenter than many of the politicians surrounding her.

She was outstanding. An excellent presenter of ideas.

And this is before we even get to Bill Clinton who may be the greatest orator of our generation. People may call him slick … but the man can command an audience … an audience of millions. Many people can create a connection one on one. A smaller, but still large group, of presenters can create a connection with a larger audience <say 100 to 1000>.

But there are very very few who know how to speak to a group of 20000+ and make 90% of that humongous group feel like they are being talked to one-on-one … and by one-on-one I mean that the speaker has done the trapeze-like balancing act of hope & reality.

The ability to teeter between “what could, and can, be” and “what is” in such a way that you feel like you can not only see a light at the end of the tunnel but you are willing to get up out of the chair and do something about getting to the end of the tunnel.

Billy-boy can do that. Like him or dislike him the man can speak. His speech?

Methodical yet personal. Substantive yet likeable. Long yet engaging. There is no one on the Republican side who can match Bill. Heck. There are a handful of people globally who may be able to match Bill.

And then the Obama presentation. Not overwhelming. Solid. But, frankly, I am not sure what else he could do. People argued he should detail what has to be done. Nope. He has shown a plan … why waste time sharing it again. He couldn’t defend his record because people cannot do that for themselves (and be believable or non arrogant). Clinton and Biden did that.

What he was left with were 2 things. Here is the type of leader I am and here is the choice you need to make if you want me. Carville (I think) said he and Biden were “muscular.” Yeah. I buy that. Anyway. Detail or no detail on a plan he was presidential. Good tone if that was goal.

Now.

There was a teaching moment with his speech. And it wasn’t during the speech but just before it. Great presenters enter an important presentation in a variety of ways. For example I found it interesting to hear Hilary talk about how Bill sent her a variety of drafts for her thoughts. And for Barack while I envision there were a lot of discussions over words in Obama’s speech I guess there was no debate on one thing – I bet the first lady stepped up and said “no one else but me is going to be at that podium to introduce Barack.”

Why?

They are a delightful partnership and she was not going to leave that stage until she knew he was ready. And I believe he knew it was the best thing for him.

Why do I say this? I pay attention to little shit with presentations. There was the charming little moment right after she introduced him and they hugged when she leaned back a little, like a protective proud mom, and straightened his tie for him because their hug messed it up. And then, well, I am not a lip reader but she has her hands on his shoulders and looks him right in the eye and says “you ready?” I personally believe she wouldn’t have stepped away until she saw what she needed to see.

Why is that an important detail? Great presenters find a ‘place’ before they present. Its hard to describe. Its the itty bitty calm place you go to before bringing it on. The lesson here? Obama is a great speaker. This was a big big moment. Standing in front of hundreds (which I know) you can feel very small in that pre-calm moment before it all clears away. But you have to clear the clutter and get into your space no matter what <or you are screwed>. I cannot even imagine when it is millions in front of you. So what? You do what you need to do to insure success. You do not have to do it alone. Do I know what Michelle would have done if she hadn’t seen what she needed to see? Nope. I imagine she would have hugged one more time and said whatever a great partner says to put the right frame of mind in place, the zone as it were, for Barack. But my guess is if I saw it right “you ready” placed Barack right into the “yes I am” cleared clutter space.

Anyway.

The real point.

There is no presentation formula. And I tell kids that all the time. And I do it just because I see speech situations like this. You gotta figure out what is best for each presentation situation. I appreciate Obama was smart enough to recognize that and envy the fact he had someone who recognized the moment.

But. That’s me.

Learning

The bottom line <on presenting and words>? People, especially young people, should watch these things to see how ideas and thoughts are presented. The good and the bad. The derived passion versus the natural passion. The forced schtick versus the relevant schtick. The trite story versus just good ole fashion story telling. Great presenters have a little natural gift of gab, tempered by a boatload of practice/rehearsal and honed by experience. And even with all of that … you just may not be a good presenter … and you will certainly have bad days with the good days. Conventions are a cornucopia of lessons to be learned.

Some examples.

Romney. Bet he is brilliant in a boardroom or management meeting. Appears to have that innate ability to listen, assimilate and provide concise strong direction. Short communication. Ryan. You can only sit back and be dazzled by his comfort in a small town hall environment. Walking around holding a mike in his hand.

This is conversational communication at its best. Clinton (and sometimes Obama). Masters of millions. Innate ability to make individual listeners feel the heartbeat of millions. That’s aspirational communication. Each is a different ability … and strength. And as with everything in life … you can’t be good at everything. And it is good for young people to learn those lessons. And watch others.

I also love watching the governors speak. Some are obviously perfect for their state constituents and not fully translatable nationally. Some are obviously just gifted communicators. In fact I sometimes believe governors represent an inordinately high percentage of great speakers.

It seems I am tending to use democrats as speaker examples because they seemed to have more variety and took more risks. Mary J Blige is inspiring but she shouldn’t be speaking on the specifics of “why.” Dave Grohl used Foo Fighter music to scare the shit out of the old delegates and then you realize you want him speaking out more often than singing – the scraggly haired scruffy screamer singer is delightfully articulate. Scarlett Johansson reminds us that no matter what you do in your career … speaking to a 25000 audience and millions on tv is very difficult for a young person. Great message (of which I will write more about in a different post) and charming but giving a speech to that size audience was significantly more difficult for her than giving a strong movie monologue. And yet Eva Longoria, surely stunningly attractive, was stunningly articulate and charming – in one on one interviews and the big stage.

Look.

All I am saying is young people should watch these events even if they don’t want to listen to politics. You can learn a lot just by watching how people speak and present their ideas and thoughts.

What I believe is good? I use Clinton’s 2008 convention speech as part of presentation training examples. It is one of the best presentations I have ever seen & heard. Now? I will add in his 2012 convention speech for a completely different reason. This speech was a great example of how to communicate details in an engaging way. Oh. And I will also be using Michelle Obama’s presentation.

Outstanding in its pacing, content and delivery.

Anyway.

And, well, here is my election prediction based on this whole presentation diatribe <and I am only absolutely clear on two things at the moment … I will not vote for Romney and I do not want to vote for Obama … boy … that seems different than the “vote for anyone but Obama” which seems to be the media darling thought these days> the democrats will win because they have better presenters of ideas.

I think Romney will lose simply because the Republicans just cannot inspire people. And you know what? That’s okay. We are living in some pragmatic times where we all need to take some really tough pragmatic steps … but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t forget aspirations & hope & American dreams and all that stuff. We shouldn’t have to trade one for another.

Anyway.

Regardless. I wanted to end this post on some things about all these words and thoughts being tossed around and use some quotes I have been aching to use for awhile.

In a world, and an election, where everyone is shouting at the top of their lungs telling everyone what is wrong with the world and offering <what a friend of mine and I call> sound bite “there is no other right way to do this” solutions I was reminded of two literary thoughts:

– 1. Caution when hearing the solution prophets:

Do not fear ashes, do not fear curses,

Do not fear brimstone and fire.

But fear like the plague the man with the rage

To tell you, “I know what is required!”

Who tells you, “fall in and follow me

If heaven on earth’s your desire.”

– <an unsourced Russian ballad>

I know. I know.

We have all seen and heard thoughts like this and I believe we all know in our heart of hearts that we agree <although we may not discriminate as well as we could & should>. But I liked this because it had a slightly different twist.

The twist? Do not fear passion. I liked it because … well … there are a bunch of smart people out there who know that something is wrong … and may not be the person who can offer the solution. With brimstone, fire and curses they make people take note of the issue. And that is their role in the situation.

It is those who speak with the rage of solution certainty we should fear.

In today’s world we seem to be seeking the infamous ‘plan.’ Well … folks … I got news for you. We can certainly have a plan … and I can guarantee you that both parties have a plan <just as both are concerned with debt & unemployment & all the important issues just as equally> but everyone seems to be losing sight of adaptability. Great organizations, businesses, succeed because of vision <which both parties share> and the ability to adapt to the situation as it occurs <because, trust me, if anyone believes solving any country’s issues is a straight line solution than they belong in a loony bin>.

The current administration has been plugging holes in the dike as they occurred.

Could they have planned for them? No frickin’ way.

Does that mean they don’t have a longer term plan <or vision>? Nope <they do>.

But, when you are plugging holes to keep the dike in place, it’s tough to do everything at once. And it is even tougher to share “the infamous vision” <beyond doing what is best for America> when you aren’t really sure what next month will bring in terms of a crisis that needs to be solved.

Regardless.

The point here is that I want to remind everyone that what I do like <one of the few things> about the Obama administration is that they are not running around saying “I know what is required” … they have shown an ability to adapt to the challenges they have faced.

– 2. Caution with the silence and inaction of the majority <masses>

“The mouse dreams dreams that would terrify a cat.”

Armenian proverb

===

“Insurrection is a machine that makes no noise.”

–

Trotsky

Metaphorically the bulk of a population are the mice. Sorry. I know that doesn’t sound good but you get the point. I hesitate to call it the 99% <because the 99% is not all the same> but suffice it to say the 1 to 5% who lead and guide, and misguide, are the cats.

And they pretty much do look the same because, well, they are cats.

Beyond that silly notion is a non silly thought. We dream of things the cats cannot envision … despite the fact I keep on hearing that they think they do.

These politicians live in La-La land.

They have no frickin’ clue what keeps most of us awake at night every frickin’ night we go to sleep. They have no frickin’ idea what we are thinking as we slog our way through the day. And they are absolutely clueless as to what we feel as we sit at the dinner table opening up our pay stub on one side and all the bills we have to pay on the left side. They say it … and I think they believe it … but …

No.

Frickin’.

Clue.

And that leads me to the second quote from Trotsky.

As the leaders tell everyone what they are dreaming and talking and talking … and well … talking … the possibility of insurrection is occurring with little or no noise. The point is that it is gaining momentum without warning.

Now.

I am not using insurrection as Trotsky actually did, and was involved in, but the point is the point.

When people (the mice) get fed up <or fired up>. When they stop being satisfied with simply dreaming dreams <which would terrify the cats> they do something. And that is called ‘insurrection.’

So.

All that scary stuff said … I typed all of that because I don’t think it matters who wins the US election … the mice are pissed at the cats.

Partisan politics may not need to cease but there has to be a compromise. Or in the end there will be some type of insurrection. Because, in the end, that is what democracy is about … people … and what they want. While elections bring out the best, and worst, of the everyday people’s opinions in the end all they really want is something to be done. Ok. Things done that are well crafted and not compromised into ineffectiveness through partisan politicking.

Insurrection is a quiet machine.

We are focused on the vocal/noisy … the ones shouting on sidewalks and streetcorners and talk shows. Silly silly us.

Visit a bar.

The machine of insurrection is churning on bar stools and neighborhood tables and friendly playground discussions as children play.

It is weird to me but we Americans have short memories.

We look at the French or Russians for insurrections/revolutions. And, yet, we are a country built upon revolution/insurrection … and have adapted through ‘revolution-like’ activity <maybe it is because we are too ‘civilized’ or tie it too closely to communism to understand this>.

Labor strikes in the 1800’s, peace demonstrations in the 70’s, civil war, segregation, etc. … we are a community that thrives on some type of insurrection to create cultural shifts. If politicians don’t see this, or even recognize the possibility, then … well … I question whether they really have their eye on the ball <the fact that they are elected to represent the people>.

All those things I just typed, despite all the archival footage of street demonstrations and such, were borne in the neighborhood bar and home.

Ok.

All that said despite my relative indifference to Obama … he gets re-elected <which I actually believe is the lesser of two evils>.

Why?

Hope & what is in place.

Hope wins out over pragmatism <and the reality which a certain % of the American population will realize is that whatever “plan” is presented will be torn up and have to adapt to a changing environment anyway>. What is in place has some solid underpinnings. More needs to be done but things have been done, and have been proposed, which are solid. Plus. I am not thrilled with the thought of someone coming in and ripping out everything and starting all over.

From there?

Well. I don’t need to get out of the fucking tunnel in the next 4 years but I sure as hell need to see the light at the end of it.

I like hope.

No. I love hope.

And I love the American dream <and what it is that makes up the gestalt of America> but at some point I think Americans should be happy … and not scared. I actually believe that about every country & population but for now I am talking about the good ole USofA.

I just want the Obama administration to show us the light at the end of the tunnel for god’s sake.

If they do that?

Well. We Americans are tough. I know I am tough when people make promises and say they are going to do a job. And, inevitably, in our ‘toughness’ we will always find fault in anyone … or anything … that is done … but … while this will not matter to Mr. Obama, or even Mrs. Obama, I would fly to wherever the Obamas were <on my dime mind you> and shake their hands and say thank you if they got us out of this hole.

It probably won’t matter to them but I envision I would not be the only one to be there that day.

Oh.

And while I was there I may ask for a presentation lesson … because by gosh, by golly … those democrats sure can present an idea.